What do you think a 'Iron Butt' weekend is?

[fudgie]

Was getting some days off this summer and I was checking a nearby HD dealership for some rides that interest me. I came accross a 'Iron Butt Weekend' ride. 2 day ride to some caverns. So I think cool. In my mind I'm thinking these HOG members are going on a far ride, I was thinking 300 mile trip, 1 way, for the 2 days. Well after seaching the location online...it like 130 mile trip.    Wow! Way to far for me to go!  Wow. Just wow....

[Big IV]

When I think Iron Butt I'm thinking about rides over 500 miles.  Everything else is just a day on the bike.
To me at least it doesn't approach the Iron Butt level until you start putting in over 500 miles.  I suppose the actual definition is over 1,000 miles in 24 hours, or 2,500 miles per whatever.

130 miles? I did that last Sunday as an afternoon ride to a late lunch.  We put over 150 miles on the bikes without really trying to go anywhere. We just left, and rode until we felt like walking around and looking at a state park, rode until we wanted lunch, and then rode some more. No real planning involved.

[NiteRiderF6]

Most Iron Butt Certifications are for 1000 verifiable miles in 24 Hours.... There are others, but that was the one that started it all.

130 miles? Please.... When my brother and I are just goofing around on a Saturday, we'll ride 350 to 400 miles just cruising around the country. When I get lost going to the store it's usually 200 miles or so.  

[Blackduck KS]

You got to remember who your dealing with here, on A Harley 130 miles,
is like riding 1000 miles. HA HA HA !!!!
I know I`ll pay for this but couldn`t resist my brother has a harley.

[junior]

 When I get lost going to the store it's usually 200 miles or so.  

how can you get lost with that paint? i think they can see that bike from the space station............lol

[3fan4life]

Most Harley Riders don't ride what we consider a long distance.

But, then more than a 100mi on most Harleys would be torture.

In Feb of 2007 I rented an Ultra Classic for a day in Daytona, Fl.

   

The rental agreement included unlimited mileage. But, I could tell that they were suprised when I brought it back with almost 400mi more on the clock than when it left.

At least it was a bike that was comfortable to ride.


Most of my day rides on the VALK avg about 250mi.

Sometimes less, Sometimes more.


Last Sunday I rode 549mi to get some fresh seafood (at least that was the excuse).



Any ride in the 500mi + category does tend to become an "Iron Butt" ride.

A friend of mine has participated in the actual "Iron Butt" rides and they are very challenging.

I think that the entry level is 1000mi in 24 hours.

I'd like to do that sometime but not before I get an ultimate seat on my VALK.


  

[NiteRiderF6]

Why do you think I ride at Night? eh.... NiteRider  

[Wizzard]

I do not consider it an "Iron Butt" untill I been on the bike 12 hours and at least 600 miles.

[ChromeDome]

2000 miles in 48 hours ... that would be an "Iron Butt" weekend.

Apparently Harley riders have a different view of an "Iron Butt" weekend. 

[Willow]

A one thousand mile day is an "Iron Butt" ride.  An eight hundred mile day is a good long distance day.  A five hundred mile day is respectable.

I'm really not much for riding in groups.  I ride alone or with Far Riders.  I've ridden trips with people with whom I will never ride again.




 

[Willow]

You may have noticed in the previous post that my glove size is small.

I can go so far for so long because I'm not the full sized luxury model.   

[junior]

willow you outlaw....lol. we have some roads that we can go that fast on but not for any distance. wecome to new hampshire

[Big IV]

I used to leave out of Charlotte and head to Myrtle Beach, SC for brunch. Then hit lunch in Wilmington and then try to have dinner at home. Not a short trip.
Then I got married. We've ridden from here to the Gulf in a day.
Then we got the house, and mortgage. My idea of time management has shifted and my trips have gotten smaller, but just as much fun.
Oh well.
I suppose I once thought 500 miles was shorter than I do now.


Speaking of HDs.
My buddy rented a Dyna Wide on vacation in Hawaii. His wife actually rode on the back of it for a change. She said she liked it. So after they lapped the island a few times, he called from the hotel to our local HD shop (he carries their card) and ordered a Dyna. Must be nice. You don't have to have money yourself, but it is fun when your friends do.
Anyway. He picked up his out of the box Dyna.  The sales people which he was meeting for the first time took on a walk around of the bike. They went through the service contract. They discussed engine break in. They mentioned that he really needed to try to ride 500 miles within the first year so that he could schedule the recommended service.  He asked if he could have an appointment the next day. It was Friday, about noon.  
When they had called to say his bike was in, he called and told his boss that he wanted the day off or he'd quit. That phone call kept him from being at the dealer when it opened.
So there he stood at noon, asking for an appointment when they opened the next day, he wanted it early so he could do some riding saturday afternoon too.  The sales people just stared at him. They didn't think he could ride 500 miles between noon then and 9:00 am the next morning. He just stared back at them and told them to make the appointment and be ready to open the doors.
He took his key and rode away.
The next morning he had to wait for the shop to open late, the mechanic to come in late, and them to start the service.
He had 505 miles on the clock.
And after the servicing was done? He decided the break in was over and it was time to ride.

Some HD riders do ride.  Some valk owners polish more than others. It happens.

I met a guy once in Daytona, years ago, he was riding a pink Harley Davidson, I believe it was a panhead. I remember watching people walking up to him laughing at him in the bar parking lots, "where are you and your sissy bike from?" He'd smile, "just rode in from Alaska, where are you from?"  They'd drop their jaw and run around to his liscence plate. He really did have a dirty Alaska plate back there. I followed him down the interstate from NC south to FL, so if he didn't ride the whole way, he sure did take the scenic trip getting there.

Some people just ride.

My goal is to get back to that point where I'm not living paycheck to paycheck month to month and can take some time to really ride again. I miss walking in to the shop and telling the boss I'd made enough money for a while and that I was going for a ride. Those were good times. I'd divide my money in half, half to get out there, and half to get back, and just go.

I have done 1,5oo mile days on my XS11. But that was a while ago. One day I'll take my Valk on those rides too.

[Scott in Ok]

Everyone has their own definition of what a long ride is.  This is a nice days ride (note the raindrops?):






-Scott

[hotglue #43]

I don't know.... I have a buddy that did the 49 States in 10 days Iron Butt Ride......Averaged over 1000 mile/day......
He and his wife did it 2 up..... on a Harley.
  Me.... I'd rather putt along and smell the flowers....but I have done several 1000 plus mile days

[R J]

I have done several 1000+ miles a day.    Never bothered to send the $$$ or the application to them for a piece of paper.   I knew I did them and a few of my riding buddies who were with me knew so, other than those, who cares.

I have done em on a 82 Gold Wing, 90 Gold Wing, 92 Yamaha Venture, and several on the 97 Valkyrie Tourer.

Most of the ones on MGM we done right after my bypass Heart Surgery.

The 1st trip I took on MGM there were 4 back to back 1,000 mile days...  I was doing the 4 corners and trying to hit all the states in the process.   The later didn't work out to well without going a long way outside of the 4 corners route.  As of this writing, I have hot all the lower 48 states 3 times on a bike, and Alaska twice.    Flew to Hawaii for a vacation, rented a bike there so I got a picture of that state Capital also to go along with my other 49.

[Popeye]

Fudgie,

A lot of the Harley guys that I have meet use the bikes only as bar hoppers.  I have seen baggers in
the back of pickup trucks, never understood that.

I put over 19K on my Harley from May 07 to Oct 08.  I bought the bike to ride, not to be a poser. Most
months I'm working 2 weekends, so no riding at all.

I also have friends at work with 1800 Wings, they average 2K a year, can't understand that either.

Some people are born to ride motorcycles, others only want to own a motorcycle.

Popeye

[Master Blaster]

I don't know.... I have a buddy that did the 49 States in 10 days Iron Butt Ride......Averaged over 1000 mile/day......
He and his wife did it 2 up..... on a Harley.
  Me.... I'd rather putt along and smell the flowers....but I have done several 1000 plus mile days

Cmon, tell the truth, I remember once, I believe it was at Helen at a VOA rally, ya took FB to the gap and made her cry.  Putt along my A$$.

[Crazyhorse]

I have a couple of friends who ride Harleys and will ride as far and as long as you wish. I enjoy riding and stopping and riding and stopping. I mostly ride alone but enjoy riding with a friend or two at times. I've never riden over 1000 miles in a day the stopping seems to get in the way.

Crazyhorse

[fudgie]

Fudgie,

A lot of the Harley guys that I have meet use the bikes only as bar hoppers.  I have seen baggers in
the back of pickup trucks, never understood that.

I put over 19K on my Harley from May 07 to Oct 08.  I bought the bike to ride, not to be a poser. Most
months I'm working 2 weekends, so no riding at all.

I also have friends at work with 1800 Wings, they average 2K a year, can't understand that either.

Some people are born to ride motorcycles, others only want to own a motorcycle.

Popeye

I agree popeye. I have a HD guy that would hang with me all those miles and a bike he never washes. I also never could understand baggers on a trailer.  ??? I was just awe struck when I read the Iron Butt and then mapped it out.  I know I have done my share of bar hopping! 

[hotglue #43]

I don't know.... I have a buddy that did the 49 States in 10 days Iron Butt Ride......Averaged over 1000 mile/day......
He and his wife did it 2 up..... on a Harley.
  Me.... I'd rather putt along and smell the flowers....but I have done several 1000 plus mile days

Cmon, tell the truth, I remember once, I believe it was at Helen at a VOA rally, ya took FB to the gap and made her cry.  Putt along my A$$.

  Shhhhhh.... I think she has forgotten about that.....

[Hoser]

Me and Klopp rode back to Ks from the VOAI gathering in South Dakota last year in 14 hours straight thru with a breakfast stop in 14 hrs,  He was on an Ultra classic, me on my tourer, 787 miles, it was very enjoyable.  Hoser 

gettin ready to go